American Oil and Gas Reporter - September 2016 - 90

SpecialReport: Tubulars Technology
with CT manufacturers to refine its fatigue
prediction model. "With the addition of
the Achilles 5 fatigue model, which incorporates updated information from
coiled tubing manufacturers, and the
Achilles 4 model in our Cerberus™ CT
modeling software, a service company
can achieve maximum life before retiring
the string from active service," he says.
"String management is crucial for CT
service providers in today's market environment."
The latest version of the software includes several enhancements, such as
graphs with more control and improved
viewing of run in hole (RIH) and pull
out of hole (POOH) calculations. It also
has CT limit plots that evaluate RIH and
POOH calculations, bias welds derating,
and a 3-D well survey diagram that displays tubular dimensions overlaying the
survey and allows the user to visualize
quickly where the kickoff point is, Black
adds.
The CTES engineering team already
is designing next-generation Orion™ data
acquisition systems (DAS) to include
technology and functionality needed to
keep pace with the new challenges in
well intervention operations, Black reports.
"The Orion hardware systems typically

are metal boxes with connectors on the
side that are installed in the cab of a CT
unit. Cables connect to the Orion DAS
and extend to sensors on the coiled tubing
rig to monitor and record data being created during CT operations," Black says.
"The cab is small, so we are looking at
ways to minimize the data acquisition
system's footprint while giving it more
functionality."
Those efforts have been successful so
far, he says. "In the past, we had boxes
that were 18 inches wide by 18 inches
tall and eight inches deep," he recalls.
"We have reduced the footprint to 14 x
14 x 6 inches, so the next generation has
a much smaller footprint than today's."
Moving forward, Black says CTES
will integrate features that use the collected
data to automate elements of the CT operation. "With automation, CT service
companies should be able to make running
coiled tubing less labor intensive and reduce variations in quality based on individual training and strengths," he says.
"The drilling industry has done this with
great success."
Black predicts coiled tubing automation
will advance in small steps. "For example,
the unit operator could control pump
speed and rates automatically," he says.
"Full automation will be achievable in

the near future, but the degree of automation will be driven by demand from
service providers.
"Today, we are seeing demand from
oil and gas operators to get the operation
data off the well site and into their offices
in real time," he comments. "The goal is
to set up operation centers where a subject
matter expert such as a senior engineer
can monitor multiple jobs, make decisions,
and communicate to the guys in the field
during live operations."
Black says such real-time operation
centers may reduce costs, like they have
in the drilling industry. He adds that they
will make it easier for operators to analyze
data and plan jobs.
Coiled Tubing Tractor
When even the best vibration tools, tapered string designs and lubricants are not
enough to get the coiled tubing where it
needs to go, tractors specifically designed
for coiled tubing step in. According to
Bruce Moore, vice president of WWT International Engineering Services LLC, tractor performance continues to get better.
"In one job-a new application for tractors-we used a tractor with 9,300 pounds
of pull capacity to walk 14,300 feet in a
single run," he relates. "That is a major
accomplishment."
Moore says WWT continues to push
the envelope. "Our customers always
have a desire to put more tools down
hole, creating restrictions that force a
conveyance device such as a tractor to
get smaller and smaller. At the same
time, laterals are getting longer. To meet
their needs, we have to figure out how to
put more power in a smaller package,"
he explains.
WWT Coiled Tubing Tractors™ are
powered by intervention fluid, Moore
says, adding they work with fluid of any
reasonable quality. "We use a hydraulic
logic controller to direct fluid to pistons,
which provide the power to actuate the

Coming In October

To help service companies perform coiled tubing operations, CTES, a business group
within NOV Completion & Production Solutions, reports it is improving the interface for
its Cerberus™ software. The latest version features an advanced fatigue model that allows service companies to maximize string life.

90 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

The inside story of how one independent initiated a compressor optimization program to boost gathering
system throughput and increase base
production from a large natural gas
field with well completed in both
conventional and unconventional
reservoirs.

American Oil and Gas Reporter - September 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Oil and Gas Reporter - September 2016